Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Wrinkled eye bags and dark circles that seem like a falling shadow
are sure a visual nightmare for each of us. Sometimes these occur in
early childhood, and over time they are more visible.
If you see a panda instead of yourself in the mirror, do not panic!
It is not your identity, it is only those nasty dark circles around your
eyes that appear as a result of too much partying or just working late.
“You can tell the day by the morning” sure applies to this one. To
have a nice kick-start in the morning and fresh looks, check the
following tips and get rid of the bags under your eyes.

What causes these “bags”?
Dark circles are a sign that your body sends in an effort to show
that there is something in your body that does not work properly.
It is believed that these occur as a result of fatigue and
insufficient sleep, which does not necessarily mean to be the case;
there is a wide range of factors that trigger the occurrence of dark
circles.
In medical terms, dark circles are harmless and they are only visible
in individuals who have an increased pigmentation compartment under
their eyes. They can also appear due to sensitivity of thin skin, under
which you can notice capillaries and veins.
Dark circles also appear as a result of water retention, kidney problems, poor metabolism, and in some cases even anemia.
Have you noticed that dark circles commonly appear in spring? Well,
if that is your case, you probably have an allergy that you do not know
of. Pollen allergies cause dark circles, so make sure you go to an
allergist for a thorough check-up.
The skin around your eyes is four times thinner than the skin on
other areas of your face. It is also more pigmented, especially in
people with darker skin tone.
Moreover, the skin around your eyes undergoes rapid movements that
you are not even aware of; during the day, you blink about 15,000 times.
Wind, sun, cold and dry air also leave marks on this particular area of
your face.

Get Rid of Eye Bags!
You can use different natural creams to get rid of eye bags or dark
circles. What is even better, you can make these at home. Here are some
tips on how to get rid of dark circles in the comfort of your own home:

Sliced Cucumber
This is one of your grandma’s oldest secrets regarding home remedies.
A piece of cucumber will sure do the trick. Cold cucumber slices are 95
percent water and they make your blood vessels constrict and
temporarily reduce puffy bags.This method is considered to be the cheapest out there, and it is
equally effective. Take a cucumber out of the fridge and slice some. Put
the slices onto your eyes and make sure they cover the bags as well.
After 10-15 minutes the bags will disappear.

Potatoes
For optimal results, keep them in the fridge overnight. Wash and cut a
potato into slices. Put the slices on your eyes and keep them on for
5-10 minutes. Remove the rings and rinse gently. Raw potatoes help
reducing any puffiness and also lighten dark circles, thanks to their
high enzyme content.

Milk
Soak a piece of cotton wool in some cold milk. Gently squeeze out any
excess and place the wool on your eyes. Keep them on for 20 minutes or
half an hour. This works great for sore eyes or dark circles, but make
sure you do this at least once a day.

Tea bags
Soak teabags of your choice in warm water and keep them in the fridge
for 5-10 minutes. Place them on your eyes and wait for 20 minutes or
half an hour. Rinse with cold water. Chamomile or green teabags work
best.

Egg white
Scramble an egg white and apply it around your eyes, using a brush.
As it dries, you will feel a mild tension, but that is a good thing.
Leave the white on for 20 minutes and rinse off with cold water.

Anyone asked for emergency help?
Massaging your dark circles with an ice cube for 5 minutes is the
fastest way to reduce them. However, this may be dangerous for your eyes
and sinuses, which is why it should be only used as an emergency aid.

Extra tips
Once you have got rid of eye bags, make sure you keep them away.
Sleep enough and do not spend your free time in front of the TV.

Healthy Diet
The way you look is linked to your dietary habits. Eat healthy foods
to keep those circles from coming back. Dark circles are often related
to vitamin K and vitamin B12 deficiency.
Eat a lot of fruits and veggies, especially leafy greens like
spinach, cabbage, kale or any other vegetable of your choice. Reduce the
salt intake because salt retains water, which causes dark circles.

Drink Plenty of Water
This applies especially for those who have dark circles. However, you
may want to stay away from liquids before bedtime, because this may
also make dark circles appear in the morning.

Stop or Reduce Smoking
Smoking also causes dark circles and eye bags. Insufficient hydration
and dry skin associated with smoking are a common reason for dark
circles.

Almond Oil
If your dark circles keep coming back, massage your under eye area with some almond oil every morning.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

How to instantly prevent mouth-to-mouth contact.

From Kim's polarizing derriere to John Stamos' recent turn as a butt model, breaker of the Internet, Paper
magazine, knows how to make you feel things. For me, Paris Hilton's
goth beauty moment from her Winter 2015 cover did the trick. Worn with
an inky cat eye and long onyx nail extensions, Hilton's glossy tar lips
are equal parts Giles fall 2015 and Marilyn Manson.

While Paris wore Nars for her cover, I found an OCC Lip Tar in Tarred
(duh) and replicated the look for myself. As you can see on Snapchat
(@elleusa), it takes like five seconds to put this stuff on and requires
zero cleanup. Like Paris, "I will often respond to fans who D/M me." So
it was really gratifying to find that ELLE's Snapchat followers also
appreciate a departure from the usual 20 lip colors.

From classic icons to modern muses, these are the celebrities who prove the versatility and cool style of the short cut.

Friday, December 11, 2015

Top Fall Fashion 2015: Our complete guide to the top 10 trends of the season

While you’re out and about eating ice cream, running through splash
pads and enjoying balmy nights on a patio, we’re in the office (iced
coffee on deck) compiling the best Fall 2015 trends our editors saw in
Paris, London, Milan and New York.

Whether wispy swathes of fabric, heavy-duty layers or pretty much an
elevated Snuggie, capes and ponchos were a main player on the runways,
as seen at Lemaire, Chloé and Céline.

We’re saying buh-bye to the 1970s and hello to the ’80s, thanks to designers like J.W Anderson
(insert a million heart-eyed Emojis here). We also discovered that
elaborate ruffles and delicate lace, evocative of Queen Victoria’s 19th
Century reign, are all the rage ATM.

Geometry class was in session, with collections relying heavily on
the use of kaleidoscopic prints, exaggerated angles and
out-of-this-world shapes. There were also many DIY looks, from crafty
baubles at Stella Jean, to doodled-up dresses at Dolce & Gabbana. Paging Bob Ross and Neil Buchanan.

When it came down to the accessories game, necks and legs were
considered prime real estate. From massive pearl necklaces to thigh high
boots, designers ensured every square inch of skin was fully utilized.
Read: Stella McCartney and Christian Dior.

Lastly fur abounded—surprise!—ranging from conventional (fluffy toppers at Louis Vuitton, Sacai and Michael Kors) to unorthodox (Gucci’s hirsute loafers that would give Cousin Itt a run for his money).

The list goes on, but you’ll have to continue reading to find out which trends we’re on board with this season.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

You’d think a 16-year Victoria’s Secret veteran wouldn’t break a sweat walking down the catwalk in peekaboo lingerie, but Adriana Lima still gets nervous moments before the show kicks off. As the 34-year-old model tells InStyle, watching the show, which airs tonight at 10 p.m. ET on CBS, is much different from actually being there.

So
how does she feel before she hits the runway? “I’m nervous and I’m
trying to control myself so I can do my job well and have fun.
Everything goes so fast, so you don’t realize what the final result of
what you do is because everything happens so naturally,” she admits.
Nerves aside, Lima, who reveals she’ll be watching tonight’s show next
to her fellow Angels, successfully rocked two stunning ensembles with
matching wings. However, one in particular won over her heart.

“My
favorite moment was definitely walking during the segment ‘Fireworks’
and The Weeknd was on stage, and I could not love that song [‘Can’t Feel
My Face’] more,” she says. “I wake up, I take the car, I drop off my
kids at school, I put that song on and I drive to the gym with that
song. I did not know which one he was going to sing.”

The
special performance also welcomed a first for the model. “This is the
first time, by the way, that I got to walk on the runway next to the
musician that I love with the song that I love. So, I’m very happy!” she
adds. “It was like a feel-good song and I couldn’t be happier. He’s so
talented. I love his voice. I love his music.” And while the weeks
leading up to the show were full of hard work, don’t think Lima simply
took a vacation afterward. “I was working the next day! First thing next
day I was working, but it’s not bad—I enjoy it.”

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Statement shoes, boho dresses, wide-leg pants, and denim:
These are the trends we spotted on the streets of New York during
Fashion Week. Because while the runways are the place to spot next season’s key pieces, it’s the pavements surrounding NYFW that delivered inspiration on what to wear right now.
Over the event we spotted editors, celebrities, and a swarm of
fashion’s social media stars are gearing up for fall with jaw-dropping
looks that you need to see. You’ll want to copy and paste these outfits
straight into your closet.
Like what you see? Check back daily to scroll through brand-new images shot by our gal on the street.

As always, the end of New York Fashion Week
brings with it the inevitable forecasting of next season’s trends, and
while it’s still too early to tell which styles the masses will take to,
we’ve highlighted 10 particularly strong recurring Spring 2016 looks
that emerged with a vengeance from the week’s fashion spectacle.

Scroll To See More Images

1 of 11

From left: Altuzarra, BCBG, Raquel Allegra (Photos: Imaxtree)

Ton Sai Chic

For spring, designers clearly were inspired by the ultimate beach
bum. If we can’t actually quit our corporate gigs to bartend in Bali or
makejewelryin Maui, we’ll at least look like we did next season, thanks to the amount of batik, tie-dye, Baha pullovers, bucket hats, and loose linen coming down the pike.

2 of 11

From left: Proenza Schouler, Creatures of the Wind, Edun

The Cold Shoulder

Perhaps taking cues from what was popular in the retail world this summer, more than a few designers showcased tops and dresses with cold shoulder silhouettes for Spring 2016.

3 of 11

The Puffy Shirt

Designers clearly were catching up on “Seinfeld” reruns while
conceptualizing their spring lines, given the fact that white ruffled
blouses—reminiscent of the show’s infamous “puffy shirt”—made numerous runway appearances.

Friday, December 4, 2015

There are thousands of anti-aging creams, moisturizers, lotions,
serums, exfoliators, and cleansers available, and you can spend hundreds
of dollars on luxury brands, or just a few dollars at the drugstore.
But many inexpensive drugstore brands work just as well as the luxury
brands, dermatologists say, because they contain many of the same
ingredients.
The secret? Find your glow with the right products for your skin type.

Bar Soap and Liquid Cleansers

Most bar soaps are too harsh to use on your face because they
contain ingredients that may irritate and dry the skin. Liquid facial
cleansers or foaming products are less harsh. Some even moisturize your
face as they clean.
Aesthetic dermatologist Amy Derick, MD, advises women to use a
liquid facial cleanser containing ceramides, lipids that help skin
retain moisture.
If you insist on bar soap, avoid soaps with sodium lauryl sulfate which can dry skin. Instead, look for moisturizing soaps with ingredients such as glycerin and plant-based oils.
If you have oily skin or acne, use a cleanser containing salicylic acid, which removes dead cells from skin, or benzoyl peroxide, which helps unclog pores. This may prevent further breakouts too.

How do retinoids and over-the-counter moisturizers and serums
that contain retinoids help diminish signs of aging? Yale dermatologist
Jeffrey Dover, MD, says they increase cell turnover and may build collagen. Another compound, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a neurotransmitter, seems to work at the nerve level to relax wrinkles temporarily.

Try creams containing retinyl propionate or retinol, which are found in the skin as vitamin A derivatives.

Read your labels. Ingredients such as peptides and sirtuin, a protein, help smooth uneven texture and improve skin’s elasticity.

Look for the terms PAL KTTS, copper peptides, and palmitoyl oligopeptide on the ingredient list of anti-aging creams.

Moisturizers

The skin on your face is constantly exposed to air and
pollutants that rob skin of moisture. Old-fashioned petroleum jelly has
been used for decades as an inexpensive moisturizer. It works by sealing
in moisture, but it’s greasy and heavy.
Moisturizers with emollients and humectants hydrate the skin
without the greasy effect. Humectants help retain moisture while
emollients help soften and soothe skin. Together, they can temporarily
minimize fine lines around the eye or on the neck.Many skincare products both moisturize and provide anti-aging benefits, dermatologist Doris Day, MD, says.

Look for creams that contain glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which plumps the skin temporarily, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Ingredients in moisturizers and serums must get through the the
skin’s outermost layer to work effectively. Using an exfoliator twice a
week will help slough off dead skin cells, allowing creams to penetrate.
It also helps make skin appear smoother and less blotchy. Some
all-in-one skin cleansers and exfoliators are gentle enough to be used
every day.
For an effective but gentle exfoliator, look for products containing glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, or malic acid.

Antioxidant Creams

Many creams contain antioxidants, which help prevent free radicals from damaging cells. Some of the creams claim to diminish wrinkles, sallowness, and other signs of sun damage. But there are very few scientific studies that prove they really work as claimed.
If you want to try antioxidant face creams, look for products containing niacinamide,
which is both an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant, or the
antioxidants coenzyme Q10, coffee berry extract, and soy extract.
Dermatologist Robin Ashinoff, MD, says these ingredients may help reduce
the signs of sun damage.

Skin Lightening

Ashinoff says over-the-counter creams containing licorice extract
or kojic acid, a fungal ingredient, may lighten those unsightly “age
spots” that crop up on the face and neck. But they won’t get rid of the
spots completely. She recommends that women who want to lighten spots on
their face look for a cream that contains hydroquinone which has been proven effective in lightening skin.

Skin Lightening continued...

The FDA allows over-the-counter skin lightening products to contain up to 2% hydroquinone. In 2006, the FDA proposed banning hydroquinone, but that ban has not gone into effect.
The FDA also advises consumers not to use any skin lighteners
that might contain mercury, a toxic metal. Those products are made
abroad and have been sold illegally in the U.S. If you see "mercurous chloride," "calomel," "mercuric," "mercurio," or "mercury" on the label, stop using it immediately, wash your hands and any other parts of your body it's touched, and call a health care professional for advice.

Sun Protection

About 80% of visible skin changes attributed to aging are caused
by exposure to ultraviolet light. Preventing sun damage is the single
most important thing you can do for your face.
Many facial moisturizers and creams contain broad-spectrum
sunscreens that filter out UVA and UVB rays. The American Academy of
Dermatology recommends using broad-spectrum protection of at least SPF
30 every day. Limiting your time in the sun, especially between the
hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and wearing protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, and a wide-brimmed hat, can also help
protect your skin from sun damage.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Fashion
Snoops’ Spring/Summer 16 Color Forecast identifies five key palettes:
Backyard, Soft Nostalgia, Seaside, Desert Bloom and Heirlooms. Soft
Nostalgia plays the most important role with a continuation of pastels
that become notably more saturated. Desert Bloom refreshes the notion of
neutrals with new base tones and enticing fashion colors that offer a
new perspective. The full report is available in the WeConnectFashion Trend Shop.

SEASIDE - VIBRANT MID TONES PALETTE

Seaside is presented as a vibrant selection of mid-tones. Bubblegum
pink plays an essential role, while newer shades of Coral and Melon are
influenced by pink and grapefruit casts. Orchid and Aqua are offered as
emerging fashion colors. Custard is lively, yet not overly saturated,
shade of yellow. Chartreuse is introduced as a new lime.

CORAL

Coral is a new pink this season, with salmon undertones.

HEIRLOOM - JEWEL TONES PALETTE

Jewel tones remain relevant for Spring/Summer 2016 with a new
offering of Heirlooms. Red and green continue to play the most
significant roles, including familiar shades of dark Burgundy and
brighter Ruby. Green becomes more influenced by blues with Evergreen and
Dark Teal colors. While Navy progresses as an influential base color,
Indigo offers a new alternative. Grape purple is featured as a new
fashion color.